Pattern selector apparatus for a circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

Selector devices are mounted on the stator of a circular knitting machine at the knitting stations. Each selector device includes a set of selector slides which have an actuating position for moving jacks to an ineffective position. A single preselecting device rotates with the needle cylinder and has a set of preselector slides which are selectively shifted to and from an operative position by reversible electromagnets energized in accordance with a desired knitting pattern. Preselector slides in the operative position shift the correlated selector slides of all selector devices successively to the actuating position displacing the respective jacks.

United States Patent 1191 Plath PATTERN SELECTOR APPARATUS FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Ernst Dieter Plath, Tailfingen,

, r Wurttemberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Mayer & Cie Maschinenfabrik,

Tailfingn/Wurtt, Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 185,158

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 5, 1970 Germany 2048832 [52] US. Cl 66/50 R [51] Int. Cl D04b 15/78 [58] Field of Search 66/50 R, 50 B, 25, 154 A I [56] References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,665,731 5/1972 Groezinger 66/50 R 3,709,003 1/1973 Widdowson et al. 3,733,855 5/1973 Bliss-Hill et al 66/50 R 2,348,932 5/1944 Scrantom 66/50 R UX 3,470,714 10/1969 Corbaz 66/50 R 3,568,473 3/1971 Farmer 66/50 H X 3,585,819 6/1971 il l wens

11] 3,807,197 Apr. 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT Selector devices are mounted on the stator of a circular knitting machine at the knitting stations. Each selector device includes a set of selector slides which have an actuating positionfor moving jacks to an ineffective position. A single preselecting device rotates with the needle cylinder and has a set of preselector ,slides which are selectively shifted to and from an operative position by reversible electromagnets energized in accordancewith a desired knitting pattern. Preselector slides in, the operative position shift the correlated selector slides of all selector devices successively to the actuating position displacing the respective jacks.

12 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PAH-mm 30 mm 3.807; 197

' SHEEI .3. 0F 5 FIG. 3

. INVEN 0R. scum-mere? KI. I 9040' PATENTED m4 3307397 SHEET 8 BF 5 IN V EN TOR. Elm r 'lllm Pmmomsm sleovllsn SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR. EAAIXFIIE'TEII Paar" af/a PATTERN SELECTOR APPARATUS FOR A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a pattern selector apparatus for a circular knitting machine which has a rotary needle carrier, such as a needle cylinder, and a stationary cam box. It is known to provide selector apparatus for operating circular knitting machines of this type to knit a selected pattern. In accordance with one construction according to the prior art, a pat tern drum is provided at each knitting station which simultaneously represents the desired pattern and mechanically acts to set the knitting machine accordingly. It is a disadvantage of this type of pattern selection that the change of the knitting pattern is very timeconsuming, since allpins have to be displaced on all pattern drums in order to obtain a pattern of pins corresponding to a different knitting pattern.

In accordance with another pattern selecting apparatus according to the prior art, a set of stationary electromagnetic control-means is provided instead of the pattern drums which are electrically controlled to set the knitting machine to different knitting patterns. It is a disadvantage of such an arrangement according to the prior art that the number of electromagnetic control means must be equal to the number of knitting stationsso that a comparatively greater number of electromagnetic control means is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of pattern selector arrangements for circular knitting machines in accordance with the prior art, and to provide a pattern selector apparatus of simple construction which can be inexpensively manufactured, and permits a quick change of the knitting pattern.

Another object of the invention is to provide only a single set of electromagnetic control means which rotates with the rotary needle carrier of the knitting machine, replacing the electromagnetic control means at each knitting station of the knitting machines according to the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically operating stationary selector device at each knitting station of the knitting machine, and to successively set each selector device by asingle electromagnetically controlled presetting device rotating with the needle cylinder or other rotary needle carrier.

With these objects in view, a pattern selector apparatus according to the invention is advantageous provided in a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations, and including rotary carrier means having axial guideways, pairs of needles and needleinfluencing jacks movably mounted in the guideways and having butts projecting out of the guideways in a normal position, and stator means including cam means for guiding the projecting butts.

A pattern selector apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a pluralityof sesition of rest and an actuating position for engaging the projecting butts of jacks in the normal position so that the respective jacks are pushed to a displaced ineffective position.

A single preselector device is connected with the rotary carrier means for synchronous rotation and passes successively the selector devices during each revolution of the carrier means. The preselecting device includes a set of preselector means, preferably preselector slides, correlated with the selector slides, respectively, of the sets of selector slides of all selector devices, and being mounted for individual movement between an inoperative position, and an operative position moving along a circular path in which correlated selctor slides of all selector devices are located in the position of rest. 7

Consequently, the respective selector slides are shifted to the actuating position and the respective jacks are shifted to the ineffective position. The preselector device further includes a set of reversible electromagnetic control means connected with the preselector slides, respectively, for moving selected preselector slides in opposite directions between the inoperative and operative positions in accordance with a knitting pattern which is represented by energizing pulses supplied to the electromagnetic control means.

The electromagnetic control means, the preselector slides, and the selector slides have the same number, and pairs of preselector slides and selector slides are located at the same level, corresponding to the different levels of the butts of the respective jacks which are mounted in the slots of the needle cylinder for angular movement between a normal position and an ineffective position in which they cannot influence the movement of the correlated needles.

The electromagnetic control means are connected by circular slide rings on the rotary carrier means, and corresponding stationary contact brushes with a pattern control device which is set to a selected knitting pattern. A

The electric pattern control means is constructed in such a manner that the-knitting pattern can be quickly changes. For'this purpose, patternlprogram carriers in the form of plug boards are particularly suitable since they permit the storing of a desired knitting pattern by means of plugs whose correct position can be visually observed. All plugs representing the desired pattern can be mounted on a common supporting sheet and together inserted into the plug board, and, when required, again pulled out of the sockets of the plug board. However, pattern cards or other pattern carriers can be used, which can be easily exchanged when a new knitting pattern is desired. An electro-optic transducer which rotates in synchronism with the needle cylinders of the knitting machine, is-used for reading out the information from the pattern cards.

In.a preferred embodiment of the invention, each provided selector device includes an arresting latch for locking all selector slides of the respective selector device in the position of rest, and in the actuating position for displacing the respective jack. An actuating means, rotating withthe preselector device, successively engages the locking latches of the selector devices to cause release of the respective selector slides by the arresting latch for permitting the shifting of the same by the preselector slide between the position of rest and the actuating position. The rotating actuating means has a cam portion cooperating with the arresting latches of the selector devices for shifting the same from the arresting position, to which the latches are urged by springs, to the releasing position in which the selector slides can be shifted.

As compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantage that the knitting pattern can be quickly changed, and that a comparatively inexpensive apparatus replaces a great number of pattern drums according to the prior art.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understoodfrom the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING cured to the drive shaft 33 which passes through one of the hollow supporting columns 1 In accordance with the invention, the cylinder carrier ring 30 supports a preselector device 34 for rotation along a circular path having a center in the axis of the rotary knitting cylinder so that the preselector device 34 successively passes a set of selector device 17 which are provided at the knitting stations of the machine,

where yarns are supplied, and are secured to the stationary annular plate 11. FIG. 2 shows the single preselector device 34 passing one of the selector devices 17.

The preselector device 34 has a set of 12 axially and vertically aligned preselector means or slides 42 which are mounted in the preselector housing 34a for radial movement. Each preselector slide 42 has an inner end formed with a cam portion 43, and has two guide slots 44 which include portions slanted -to the radial direction of movement of preselector slides 42;

, In one guide slot 44 of each preselector slide 42, a pin 45 is located, the pins 45 being mounted on shifting means or slides 46, each of which is secured with the armature of a direct current reversing magnet means FIG. 5 is a fragmentary circuit diagram illustrating a detail of the pattern control means schematically shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a circular knitting machine of standard construction, has a cam box to which a plate 11 is secured. Plate 11 is mounted by ring sections 12 on radially inward projecting brackets 13 on supporting columns 14, only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The annular plate 11 is secured to a cylindrical wall 15 which has openings -16, and is closely spaced from the outer surfaceof the needle carrier or needle'cylinder 28. Cam box 10, plate 11, and cylindrical wall 15 carry cam elements 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 between which ca'm track channels for the butts '24 of the latch needles 23 are formed, or which form tracks for the butts 25 and 26 of pattern jacks 27 which are guided in guideways on the outer surface of the lower part 29 of the needle cylinder which has an upper part 28 which has axial guideways in which latch needles 23 are mounted for up-and-down movement under control. of cams 19, 20 forming a cam track in which needle butts 24 are locatedfAs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the jacks 27 have a normal position in which the jack butts 51 project out of the guideways, and an ineffective position in which the jack butts 51 or 29 are located within the guideways and are consequently ineffective to operate the needles- In addition to the upper and lower parts of the needle cylinder 28, 29, the rotary carrier means of the knitting machine include a carrier ring 30 to which the lower portion 29 of the needle cylinder is secured, and which has an outer gear 31 meshing with a drive gear 32se- 47. The reversing magnets 47 are arranged in two rows located on each side of the stack of preselector slides 47, and each pair of reversing electromagnets 47 controls two consecutive preselector slides 47, each of which has two slots 44. As best seen in FIG. 3, each reversing magnet 47 has a. shifting means 46, and magnets 47 located on opposite sides of the 12 preselector slides 42 operate adjacent axially aligned shifting means 46 so .that theset of 12 required reversing electromagnets 47 can control closely spaced aligned thinpreselector slides 42. Only one guide slot 44 is actually required in each preselector slide 42,v but it is less expensive to manufacture all preselector slides 42 with two guide slots 44 instead of manufacturing two different preselector slides 42, each of which has one slot 44 in a different position.

As best in FIG. 1, an insulating plate 36 is secured to the rotary carrier ring 30 in which a set of circular slide rings 37 is partly embedded in a position concentric with the axis of .rotation of the rotary carrier means 28, 29, 30. I2 connecting lines forming a cable 38 connect 12 of the slide rings 37 with the first ends of the'windings of electromagnets 47, while the slide ring 37is connected to ground and to all second ends of the windings. A spring-biasedcontact brush in the form of a pin'39-cooperates with each slide ring 37, and a contact pin 39' cooperates with slide ring 37'. Wires are connected to all contact pins 39, 39' and are combined in a cable 41 for establishing electric connections with a pattern control means which will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The contact pins 39, 39 are located in bores of a stationary annular plate 40 which is secured to the supporting columns 14 of the machine so that the contact pins 39,39 are stationary while the slide rings 37, 37 rotate with the preselector device 34 and the electromagnets 47. Depending on the position of the respective electromagnet 47, pin 45 on one of the shifting means 46 is located in the end portions of the respective guide slot 44 so that the respective preselector slide 42 is either in the position of rest shown in FIG. 2, or in an operative position in which the cam portion 43 has moved so far inward to an operative position as .to engage the projection 48 of a selector slide 49 located at the same level and having a free end, so that the respective selector slide 49-is shifted radially inward against the action of the return spring 50 to an actuated position in which the jack butts 51 at the respective level are pushed back into their respective guideway, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 2. If a preselector slide 42 is in'the position of rest shown in FIG. 2, cam projection 43 can pass the projection 48 of the respective selector slide 49 held by spring 50 in the illustrated position of rest in which the portion 52 of selector slide 49 does not engage or displace the respective jack butts 51.

As best seen in FIG. 1', each selector device 17 includes mounting means 17a supporting a stack of l2 vertically aligned selector slides 49 for radial movement between a position of rest shown at the center of FIG. 2, and an actuated position shown in the upper portion of FIG. 2. As best seen in FIG. 1, at each of 12 levels a preselector slide 42 cooperates with a selector slide 49 of a selector device 17 passed by the preselector device 34.

All 12 selector slides 49 of the selector device 17 have two arresting notches 53 and 54 which can be engaged by an arresting latch 55 forming part of each selector device 17. Arresting latch 55 has a lower end located in the path of movement of an actuating cam member which is secured to the rotary carrierring 30, and rotates together with the preselector device 34. When during rotation of the rotary carrier means, actuating cam 35 engages the arresting latch 55 of one of the selector device 17, the respective arresting latch 55 I is shifted upward against the force of a return spring 56.

Each arresting latch 55 has two guide slots 58 slanted to the direction of movement of arresting latch 55, and

engaged by a pair of stationary pins 57, as best seen in FIG. 3. Consequently, the displaced arresting latch is shifted in a direction transverse to the direction of its longitudinal movement to a position in which the arresting latch 55 is not located in any one of the two arresting notches 53, 54 of the respective set of selector slides 49. As best seen in FIG. 3, the actuating cam means 35 is arranged in the region of the preselector device 34 substantially aligned with the same in radial direction, so that the release of the selector slides 49 takes place shortly before the cam projection 43 of the respective preselector slide 42 engages the projection 48 of the selector slide 49 of a stationary selector device.

The arresting of all selector slides 49 in the position determined by the preselector device 4 takes place before projection 48 is released by the cam portion 43 of the respective preselector slide 42. Depending on whether the selector slide 49 is in its position of rest or in its actuating position, the respective arresting latch 55 falls into arresting notch 54 or 53. The arresting latch 55 of each selector device 17 locks the respective selector slides 49 either in the position of rest or in the actuating position, depending on the preselection by means of preselector device 34, and the selector slide 49 of each selector device 17 remain arrested for one revolution until the respective selector devices pass again the preselector device 17.

Theelectromagnetic control means 47 with shifting means 46 and reversing electromagnet 47 receive energizing control pulses from program control means so that during rotation of the preselector device 34, the electromagnetic means 47 are energized while moving between two successive stationary selector devices 17,

if the next following selector device 17 passed by the preselector device 34 is to be set to different positions of the selector slides 49.

Pattern control means for obtaining energization of the electromagnetic control means 47, 46 in accordance with the selected pattern, are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a program storage 16 in the form of a matrix which has in several planes, switching points arranged in lines and columns. In the schematic illustration of FIG. 4, the switching points 61 are schematically represented by the fields of the program storage matrix 60 whose function will be explained in greater detail with'reference to' FIG. 5. The program'storage matrix 60 is associated with a vertical counter 62 which has an output 63 for each line of the program storage matrix. The vertical counter 62 is connected with a presetting device 64, and with a program selector 65. A rotary pulse generator 66 stepwise shifts the vertical counter 62 in synchronism with the rotary carrier means 28,- 29, 30 of the knitting machine.

The program storage matrix 60 has for each column, and for all switching planes, an output connector 67 which is connected by the wires of cable 41, see FIG. 1, with the contact pins 39. Since contact pins 39 slide on the slide rings 37, the required electric connection between the output connectors 67 with the reversible electromagnetic means 47 of preselector device 34 is obtained. The return conductors of all electromagnetic means 47 of the preselector device 35 are all connected to the common slide ring 37 which is connected by contact pin 39' with ground.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale. Columns 1 and 2, and groups of four lines are shown. The program storage matrix 60 has. four switching planes, each being associated with a yarn of different color. At each switching point 61, where a line crosses a column of the program storage matrix, four switches 68, 69, 70 and 71, corresponding to four switching planes, are provided. The switches of each group are' aligned, so that they can be individual or together influenced and shifted by plugs, not shown, inserted into corresponding sockets, and being of different length or position. The lines connecting the groups of switches 68 to 71 have separate inputs 72, 73, 74 and 75, which correspond to the schematically shown-input lines 63 of FIG.-4, and are connected with the respective stage of the vertical counter 62associated with the respective line of the program storage matrix. On the other hand, all groups of switches in the samecolumn are connected with the column output 67.

' The vertical counter 62 is shifted by signals from the rotary generator 62 during movement of the preselector device'34 from one selector device 17 to the next, to the next following stage so that successively a voltage is applied to the four line inputs 72 to 75. At the switching points of the respective line, depending on the positions of the switches 68 to 71 determined by plugs, either a l-signal or a O-signal occurs at all column output lines 67 of the program storage matrix. The respective signals of outputs 67 are sorted by two logic electronic switches 76 and 77 and transmitted to separate inputs of a switching device 78 which supplies an energizing pulse from a direct current source 79 through output line 80. to the respective contact pin 39 and slide ring 37, see FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, and to one of the reversing windings 47a and 47b of a direct current electromagnetic means47. 4

7 If the reversing winding 47a of one of the electromagnets 47 is energized to move shifting means 46 in one direction, the respective associated preselector slide 42 is shifted to its operative position, so that the selector slide 49 of the next engaged selector device 17 is operated to move to its actuating position, in which it is arrested by arresting latch 55 engaging arresting notch 53. Accordingly, during each revolution of the rotary carrier means 28, 29, 30, each pattern jack 27, whose butt 51 is at the level of the actuating end portion 52 of the respective selector slide 4-9, is tilted in a known manner in the respective guideway so that the respective associated cylinder needle 23 is not raised. The vertical counter 62 can be set to a predetermined number of lines by operation of the presetting device 64. When this selected number of lines is obtained, the counter shifts back to the first line. A whole line of the program storage matrix 60 is simultaneously and rapidly read out under control of the vertical counter 62, so that at each of the outputs 67, an output signal may simultaneously occur. Since each column output 67 is associated with a specific reversing electromagnetic means 47 in the preselector device 34, all electromagnets 47 are simultaneously energized and shifted. In each line stage of the vertical counter 62, the four line inputs 72 to 75 are successively connected with the voltage. If the pattern is to be knitted only with two colors instead of four colors, the input 74 and 75 may be skipped. Instead of a program storage matrix 60 which is set to a particular selected program by application of a plug board, not shown, representing the selected program, a perforated tape and the read-out head may be used as program control means. It is also possible to provide electro-optical read-out means for reading color information of a desired knitting pattern from a sample pattern having differently colored-areas corresponding to stitches with differently colored yarns in the pattern fabric knitted by the knitting machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofpattern selector apparatus for knitting machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in a pattern selector apparatus comprising a plurality of stationary selector devices cooperating with a single rotating preselector device to set selected jacks to an ineffective position in accordance with the desired knitting pattern, it is not intended to. be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the pres ent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and including carrier means rotatable about an axis and having guideways; pairs of needles and needle influencing jacks movably mounted in said guideways, said jacks having a normal position and an ineffective position; and stator means including cam means for guiding said jacks and needles, in combination, a pattern selector apparatus comprising a plurality of selector devices mounted on said stator means cir-- cumferentially spaced about said rotary carrier means in accordance with said knitting stations, each selector device including a set of selector slides respectively located in parallel planes substantially normal to said axis and each selector slide having a projection facing away from said axis and having afree end, means mounting said selector slides for individual movement in the respective plane between a position of rest in which the free ends of the selector slides of said plurality of selector devices are respectively located along circles coaxial with said axis, and an actuating position for engaging jacks in said normal position so that the respective jacks are displaced to said ineffective position; and one preselector device connected with said rotarycarrier means for synchronous rotation and successively passing said selector devices during each revolution of said carrier means, said preselector device including a set of preselector means correlated with said selector slides, respectively, of said sets of selector slides of all selector devices, means mounting said preselector means for in-' dividual movement between an inoperative position and an operative position moving along a first circular path in which the correlated elector slides of all selector devices are shifted to said -actuating position and the respective jacks are shifted to said ineffective position, a set of reversible electromagnetic control means each including a set of reversing magnet means and a set of reversing shifting means respectively movable by said reversing magnet means between twoend positions and connected with respective correlated preselector means for moving the respective preselector means in opposite directions between said operative and inoperative positions, the reversing magnet means and the reversing shifting means of said set of reversible electromagnetic control means being respectively located in the planes of said selector slides and in each plane substantially tangential to said circle at which the free ends of said projections are located,- and an actuating means rotating about a second circular pathjeach of said selector devices including arresting means for arresting the respective set of selector slides in said position of rest and in said actuating position, said arresting means being located in said second circular path and operated by said actuating means to release said set of selector slides while shifted by said preselector means between said position of rest and said actuating position.

2. Patternselector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arresting means of each selector device includes an arresting latch crossing the respective selector slides and havinga locking position engaging said selector slides, and a releasing'position releasing said selector slides, and spring means urging said arresting latch to said locking position; and wherein said actuating means moves said arresting latch of each selector device successively to: said releasing position when engaging the same.

3. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 2 are in said position of rest and in said actuating position, respectively, and released by said arrestinglatch in said releasing position.

4. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1; wherein said preselector means are aligned preselector slides located at the same levels as said selector slides, and having the same number.

5. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each preselector slide has at least one guide slot slanted to the direction of movement of said preselector slides; wherein said reversing shifting means are mounted for movement transverse to said direction of movement and include at least one stud located in said slanted guide slot so that when said reversing shifting means are transversely shifted by said reversing magnet means between two end positions, said preselector slides are shifted between said inoperative and operative positions.

6. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jacks have staggered butts located at different levels and projecting out of said guideways in said normal position of said jacks; and wherein said selector slides in said actuating position engage the projecting butts of jacks in said normal position located at the same level, respectively, for moving said jacks to said ineffective position.

7. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reversing magnets include reversing winding means for moving said shifting means in opposite directions between said end positions, and furtherincludin'g pattern control means connected with said reversing winding means for selectively supplying thereto control pulses representing a desired knitting pattern, for shifting any selected reversible shifting means to selected end positions for moving a selected preselector means between said inoperative and operative positions in accordance with the desired knitting pattern.

8. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and comprising a set of circular slide rings secured to said rotary carrier means concentric with the axis thereof; a set of connectors for connecting said slide rings with said reversing windings, respectively; a set of contact brushes respectively engaging said slide rings and mounted on said stator means; said pattern control means being stationary and selectively supplying control pulses representing a desired knitting pattern to said set of contact brushes. 7

9. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pattern control means comprise electronic storage means including switch means arranged in lines and columns in said storage means for storing a desired knitting pattern in said storage means, and pattern representing means for setting said switching means simultaneously to a desired knitting pattern.

10. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pattern control means includes a column counter, and a rotary pulse. generator connected for rotation with said carrier means for successively interrogating the lines of said storage means in synchronism with the rotation of said preselector device.

11. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said set of preselector means is a set of aligned preselector slides; wherein said set of reversible electromagnetic control means includes a pair of rows of electromagnetic control means located on each side of said set-- of aligned preselector slides; and wherein said reversible shifting means of each pair are connected to spaced points of successive preselector slides.

12. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations, and including rotary carrier means having guideways; pairs of needles and needle influencing jacks movably mounted in said guid ways, said jacks having a normal position and an ineffective position; and stator means including cam means for guiding said jacks and needles, in combination, a pattern selector apparatus comprising a plurality of selector devices mounted on said stator means circumferentially spaced about said rotary carrier means in accordance with the knitting stations, each selector device including a set of selector means, and means mounting said selector means for individual movement between a position of rest, and an actuating position for engaging jacks in said normal position so that the respective jacks are displaced to said ineffective position; and one preselector device connected with said rotary carrier means for synchronous rotation and successively passing said selector devices during each revolution of said carrier means, said preselecting device including a set of preselector means correlatedvwith said selector means, respectively, of said sets of selector means of all said selector devices, means mounting said preselector means for individual movement between an inoperative position, and an operative'position moving along a circular path in which correlated selector means of all said selector devices are located in said position of rest so that the respective selector means are shiftedto said actuating position and the respective jacks are shifted to said ineffective position, and a set of electromagnetic control means connected with said preselector means, respectively, of said set of preselector means for moving selected preselector means between said inoperative and operative positions in accordance with a knitting pattern; said preselector device including an actuating means rotating about a second circular path; each selector device including arresting means for arresting the respective set of selector means in saidposition of rest and in said actuating position, said arresting means being located in said second circular path and operated by said actuating means to release said set of selector means while shifted by said preselector means between said position of rest and said actuated position; said arresting means of each selector device including an arresting latch crossing the respective selector means and having-a locking position engaging said selector means,

and a releasing position releasing said selector means, and spring means urging said arresting latch to said locking position; said actuating means moving said arresting latch of each selector device successively to said releasing position when engaging the same; each selector means of each selector device having a pair of arresting notches engaged by said arresting latch in said locking position when said selector means are in said positionof rest and in said actuating position, respectively, and released by said arresting latch in said releasing position; said mounting means of each selector device including a pair of pins; each arresting latch having a pair of slanted slots in which said pins are located; respectively, so that said arresting latch is transversely shifted between said locking andreleasing positions when longitudinally shifted; said actuating means including a cam moving in said circular path for successively engaging said arresting latches of said selector devices for longitudinally displacing said arresting latches; and said spring means being secured to said mounting means andto said arresting latch in a position for urging said arresting latch in longitudinal direction into said second circular path of said cam, and in transverse direction into one of said arresting notches. 

1. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and including carrier means rotatable about an axis and having guideways; pairs of needles and needle influencing jacks movably mounted in said guideways, said jacks having a normal position and an ineffective position; and stator means including cam means for guiding said jacks and needles, in combination, a pattern selector apparatus comprising a plurality of selector devices mounted on said stator means circumferentially spaced about said rotary carrier means in accordance with said knitting stations, each selector device including a set of selector slides respectively located in parallel planes substantially normal to said axis and each selector slide having a projection facing away from said axis and having a free end, means mounting said selector slides for individual movement in the respective plane between a position of rest in which the free ends of the selector slides of said plurality of selector devices are respectively located along circles coaxial with said axis, and an actuating position for engaging jacks in said normal position so that the respective jacks are displaced to said ineffective position; and one preselector device connected with said rotary carrier means for synchronous rotation and successively passing said selector devices during each revolution of said carrier means, said preselector device including a set of preselector means correlated with said selector slides, respectively, of said sets of selector slides of all selector devices, means mounting said preselector means for individual movement between an inoperative position and an operative position moving along a first circular path in which the correlated elector slides of all selector devices are shifted to said actuating position and the respective jacks are shifted to said ineffective position, a set of reversible electromagnetic control means each including a set of reversing magnet means and a set of reversing shifting means respectively movable by said reversing magnet means between two end positions and connected with respective correlated preselector means for moving the respective preselector means in opposite directions between said operative and inoperative positions, the reversing magnet means and the reversing shifting means of said set of reversible electromagnetic control means being respectively located in the planes of said selector slides and in each plane substantially tangential to said circle at which The free ends of said projections are located, and an actuating means rotating about a second circular path; each of said selector devices including arresting means for arresting the respective set of selector slides in said position of rest and in said actuating position, said arresting means being located in said second circular path and operated by said actuating means to release said set of selector slides while shifted by said preselector means between said position of rest and said actuating position.
 2. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arresting means of each selector device includes an arresting latch crossing the respective selector slides and having a locking position engaging said selector slides, and a releasing position releasing said selector slides, and spring means urging said arresting latch to said locking position; and wherein said actuating means moves said arresting latch of each selector device successively to said releasing position when engaging the same.
 3. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each selector slide of each selector device has a pair of arresting notches engaged by said arresting latch in said locking position when said selector slide are in said position of rest and in said actuating position, respectively, and released by said arresting latch in said releasing position.
 4. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1; wherein said preselector means are aligned preselector slides located at the same levels as said selector slides, and having the same number.
 5. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each preselector slide has at least one guide slot slanted to the direction of movement of said preselector slides; wherein said reversing shifting means are mounted for movement transverse to said direction of movement and include at least one stud located in said slanted guide slot so that when said reversing shifting means are transversely shifted by said reversing magnet means between two end positions, said preselector slides are shifted between said inoperative and operative positions.
 6. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jacks have staggered butts located at different levels and projecting out of said guideways in said normal position of said jacks; and wherein said selector slides in said actuating position engage the projecting butts of jacks in said normal position located at the same level, respectively, for moving said jacks to said ineffective position.
 7. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reversing magnets include reversing winding means for moving said shifting means in opposite directions between said end positions, and further including pattern control means connected with said reversing winding means for selectively supplying thereto control pulses representing a desired knitting pattern, for shifting any selected reversible shifting means to selected end positions for moving a selected preselector means between said inoperative and operative positions in accordance with the desired knitting pattern.
 8. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and comprising a set of circular slide rings secured to said rotary carrier means concentric with the axis thereof; a set of connectors for connecting said slide rings with said reversing windings, respectively; a set of contact brushes respectively engaging said slide rings and mounted on said stator means; said pattern control means being stationary and selectively supplying control pulses representing a desired knitting pattern to said set of contact brushes.
 9. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pattern control means comprise electronic storage means including switch means arranged in lines and columns in said storage means for storing a desired knitting pattern in said storage means, and pattern representing means for setting said switching means simultaneously to a dEsired knitting pattern.
 10. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pattern control means includes a column counter, and a rotary pulse generator connected for rotation with said carrier means for successively interrogating the lines of said storage means in synchronism with the rotation of said preselector device.
 11. Pattern selector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said set of preselector means is a set of aligned preselector slides; wherein said set of reversible electromagnetic control means includes a pair of rows of electromagnetic control means located on each side of said set of aligned preselector slides; and wherein said reversible shifting means of each pair are connected to spaced points of successive preselector slides.
 12. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations, and including rotary carrier means having guideways; pairs of needles and needle influencing jacks movably mounted in said guid ways, said jacks having a normal position and an ineffective position; and stator means including cam means for guiding said jacks and needles, in combination, a pattern selector apparatus comprising a plurality of selector devices mounted on said stator means circumferentially spaced about said rotary carrier means in accordance with the knitting stations, each selector device including a set of selector means, and means mounting said selector means for individual movement between a position of rest, and an actuating position for engaging jacks in said normal position so that the respective jacks are displaced to said ineffective position; and one preselector device connected with said rotary carrier means for synchronous rotation and successively passing said selector devices during each revolution of said carrier means, said preselecting device including a set of preselector means correlated with said selector means, respectively, of said sets of selector means of all said selector devices, means mounting said preselector means for individual movement between an inoperative position, and an operative position moving along a circular path in which correlated selector means of all said selector devices are located in said position of rest so that the respective selector means are shifted to said actuating position and the respective jacks are shifted to said ineffective position, and a set of electromagnetic control means connected with said preselector means, respectively, of said set of preselector means for moving selected preselector means between said inoperative and operative positions in accordance with a knitting pattern; said preselector device including an actuating means rotating about a second circular path; each selector device including arresting means for arresting the respective set of selector means in said position of rest and in said actuating position, said arresting means being located in said second circular path and operated by said actuating means to release said set of selector means while shifted by said preselector means between said position of rest and said actuated position; said arresting means of each selector device including an arresting latch crossing the respective selector means and having a locking position engaging said selector means, and a releasing position releasing said selector means, and spring means urging said arresting latch to said locking position; said actuating means moving said arresting latch of each selector device successively to said releasing position when engaging the same; each selector means of each selector device having a pair of arresting notches engaged by said arresting latch in said locking position when said selector means are in said position of rest and in said actuating position, respectively, and released by said arresting latch in said releasing position; said mounting means of each selector device including a pair of pins; each arresting latch having a pair of slanted slots in which said pins are located, respectively, so that said Arresting latch is transversely shifted between said locking and releasing positions when longitudinally shifted; said actuating means including a cam moving in said circular path for successively engaging said arresting latches of said selector devices for longitudinally displacing said arresting latches; and said spring means being secured to said mounting means and to said arresting latch in a position for urging said arresting latch in longitudinal direction into said second circular path of said cam, and in transverse direction into one of said arresting notches. 